Game device



wlyjarc H, 1941. c. F. DOERR GAME DEVI CE Filed April s, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 E 1N VENTOR. CARL Daf/QR ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. l1, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT ort-lcs GAME DEVICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to Vgames and is more particularly directed to an `improved game apparatus simulating the game of baseball, the broad object in View being to provide a mechanical game apparatus by means of which the various plays occur in substantially proper proportions, while avoiding any impossible situations.

The invention has to do with a mechanical baseball game apparatus consisting of a game board which is so constructed and arranged as to simulate a baseball diamond about which a ball raceway extends having longitudinally spaced depressions for receiving a ball projected along the raceway and fixed and movable elements vhaving indicia thereon registering with the ball receiving depressions of the raceway to indicate the successive plays to be made in accordance with the successive depressions in which the ball comes to rest.

The invention further contemplates a baseball game apparatus including a ball raceway having a surface over which the ball is adapted to be projected and formed with depressions for reeeiving the ball together with xed and movable members respectively bearing indicia representing plays of the game, the fixed member having the indicia coinciding respectively with certain of the ball receiving depressions and the movable member having indicia representing plays of the game adapted to be selectively registered with certain of the ball receiving depressions, and means for indicating the setting of the movable member with regard to the occupancy of the bases so as to formulate plays of .the game upon subsequent projection of the ball over the raceway surface.

Other objects of the invention reside in the provision of a game apparatus of the indicated character which is comparatively simple in its construction and mode of operation and which provides a highly amusing and attractive game.

With these'and other objects in view, the in- Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional vievtr taken longitudinally of the runway.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the markers used in connection with the game.

Referring to the drawings by characters of 5J reference, A designates generally the game board which consists of a base Illl constructed of any suitable material and fashionedto provide a continuous groove II constituting` a ball race which is preferably of substantially rectangular form with the adjacent leads joined by arcuate portions l2 to deflect the ball B when projectedY longitudinally over the lower surface or bottom I3 of the groove or ball race. The lower surface or bottom I3 is formed with one or more series 15 of corrugations, three being shown in the present instance, which corrugations define ball receiving depressions vI4 spaced longitudinally of the groove or raceway and extending transversely thereacross.

The game board further includes a fixed elevated center -panel or member I5 which conforms generally to the shape and size of the inner margin of the groove or raceway II and the upper surface of which is decorated or inscribed to simulate a baseball diamond having base paths I6 extending around the marginal portion thereof, a home plate Il and bases representing first, second and third, which are indicated by the reference characters I8, I9 and 20.

The center panel or member l5 is supported inv elevated spaced relation to the central portion of the base IIJ by depending feet 2| at the corners thereof and one or more of the side edge portions are cut away or provided with notches 22, two of said notches being shown in the present instance arranged intermediate the length of the left and lower edge portions, the purpose of which will be herein-after described.

The upper surface of the panel or member l5 .1,0`

is also provided with indicia 23 located alongside of certain of the depressions I4 in the bottom or lower Wall of the groove or raceway II, such indicia representing various plays of the game of baseball such as Strike, Ball, FouL One base hit, Two base hit, Three base hit," Home run, etc.

The game board further includes a movable member 25 which preferably and here illustrated as in the form of a disk spaced between the upper central surface of the base l0 and the elevated center panel or member I5 and said member or disk is provided with a concentric hub 2B through which a shaft 21 extends upwardly from a step bearing 28 in the base through a bearing 55 Uli opening 29 in the center panel or member I5 with the upper end of the shaft protruding above .said center panel and provided with a knurled plays of the game, which upon turning of thedisk is adapted to be selectively displayed through the cutaway portions or notchesZZ of the center panel or member I and disposed in registration with certain of the depressions.I@iM

of the ball race.

At one of its ends the ball race or groove I I .is provided with a means for projecting the ball B longitudinally of the raceway which as illustrated is preferably in the form) of a baseball bat 38 which is pivoted as at 39 and normally moved to the position shown in Fig. 1 by means of a spring 4U, the outer end of said bat being adapted to be manually swung and retracted from said position to the position shown in Fig. 3 for tensioning the spring, whereby upon release the opposite end of the bat forcibly contacts with the ball B' which is positioned adjacent the setting rib 4I, to thereby project the same along the raceway II. 'Ihe opposite end of the raceway is provided with a stop wall 42 for preventing the projected ball from leaving the end of the raceway.

In order to prevent the ball from accidentally leaving the raceway, When struck by the bat, a guard fence 45 is provided which is in the nature of a flexible strip positioned within the race- Wlay and protruding upwardly therefrom and extending partially therearound, preferably from a point adjacent the first arcuate portion to the second arcuate portion thereof.

The fence strip as illustrated, is detachably retained in place by means of lateral outwardly projecting lugs 46 having depending pegs 4l which are fitted into sockets 48 in the upper surface of the base I0. As illustrated, the fence is provided with longitudinally spaced upstanding stiles 50 having confronting vertical grooves 5I for receiving a displaceable score card 52.

In playing the game, use is made of markers C which may and preferably are in the form of baseball players and When the ball B is projected along the raceway and comes to rest in one of the depressions I4, a play is indicated by the indicia 23 or 35 which is alongside of said depression. If the indicia indicates a One base hit," the marker C is then placed on first base and the ball B is then reset and again projected along the raceway to indicate a succeeding play. Before the succeeding play is made, however, the movable member or disk 25 is turned to indicate the occupancy of the bases. For this purpose means is provided for indicating the setting of the movable member or disk which, as illustrated, consists of a radially projecting pointer 55 on the upwardly protruding portion of the shaft 2'I wlhich pointer cooperates with a dial having circumferentially spaced indicia 56 indicating `the occupancy of the bases, such as the phrases Bases empty On first, On second, On third, On first and second, On rst and thirdff ,Qnsecond and third and Bases full.

The indicia 56 bears ay predetermined corelation with the indicia 35 so that no impossible situations may arise in playing the game, such as a play indicating a Double play or that a runner scores on a sacrifice when there are no men on bases. In addition to the pointer 55 and dial indicia 55, means for gaging the occupancy of the bases is also provided Which consists of indicia 53 on the disk 25 which is brought into registry with a notch 59 in the center panel or member I5.

The rules of baseball are followed as to balls, strikes and other plays and the arrangement of the indicia 23 and 35 on the members I5 and 25 proportions which they occur in an actual game of baseball.

What is claimed is:

1. A baseballA game including in combination a game board having a raceway formed with longitudinally spaced ball receiving depressions and along which raceway a ball is adapted to be projected, a fixed member carried by the game board adjacent the raceway and having groups of indicia representing plays of the game respectively registering with certain of the ball receiving depressions, a movable member disposed beneath the Xed member and having groups of indicia representing plays of the game, the indicia of one gro-up being different from that of another and the indicia of each group being adapted for respective registration with the remaining ball receiving depressions of the raceway, said movable member being mounted to selectively dispose the groups of indicia thereon adjacent the raceway for registration of the indicia of each group with the ball receiving depressions.

2. A baseball game including in combination a game board having a raceway formed with longitudinally spaced ball receiving depressions and alongwhich raceway a ball is adapted to be projected, a xed member carried by the game board adjacent the raceway and having groups of indicia representing plays of the game respectively registering with certain of the ball receiving depressions, a movable member disposed beneath the fixed member and having groups of indicia representing plays of the game, the indicia of one group being different from that of another and the indicia of each group being r adapted for respective registration with the remaining ball receiving depressions of the raceway, said movable member being mounted to selectively dispose the groups of indicia thereon adjacent the raceway for registration of the indicia of each group with the ball receiving depressions, and gage means for indicating the condition of occupancy of the bases resulting from previous plays, said gage means having a predetermined corelation with the groups of indicia of the movable member so as to indicate possible subsequent plays.

3. In a baseball game apparatus, a raceway along which a ball is adapted to be projected, said raceway having longitudinally spaced recesses Within which the ball when projected along the raceway is adapted to selectively come to rest, a fixed member adjacent the raceway and having groups of indicia representing plays of the game and respectively registering with certain of the ball receiving recesses, and a movable member having indicia representing plays of the game adapted to be selectively registered with the remaining ball receiving recesses.

4. In a baseball game apparatus, a raceway along which a ball is adapted to be projected, said raceway having longitudinally spaced recesses within which the ball when projected along the raceway is adapted to selectively come to rest, a fixed member adjacent the raceway and having groups of indicia representing plays of the game and respectively registering With certain of the ball receiving recesses, a movable member having indicia representing plays of the game adapted to be selectively registered with the remaining ball receiving recesses, and means adapted to designate the condition of occupancy of the bases and corelated. with the indicia of the movable member so as to set the indicia of the movable member With reference to the ball receiving recesses in accordance with previous plays.

5. A baseball game apparatus including a game board, a xed elevated center panel having marginally spaced groups of indicia representing plays of the game and having a marginal cutout portion, a continuous ball raceWay in the upper surface of the game board surrounding the center panel and having longitudinally'spaced ball receiving depressions in the bottom thereof disposed in registry with the indicia, a rotary disk mounted below the iixed panel having marginally spaced indicia representing plays of the game and adapted to be exposed through the cutout portions of the panel, a shaft to which said disk is secured with the upper end thereof protruding above the panel, a radial pointer on the protruding end of said shaft, a dial on said panel having circumferentially spaced indicia indicating the occupancy of the bases and corelated with the indicia on the disk which is exposed through the cutout portion for cooperating with the ball receiving depressions to formulate plays of the game upon subsequent projection of the ball in the raceway.

6. A baseball game apparatus including a game board, a fixed elevated center panel having marginally spaced groups of indicia representing plays of the game and having a marginal cutout portion, a continuous ball raceway in the upper surface of the game board surrounding the centex` panel and having longitudinally spaced ball receiving depressions in the bottom thereof disposed in registry with the indicia, a rotary` disk mounted below the xed panel having marginally spaced indicia representing plays of the game and adapted to be exposed through the cutout portions of the panel, and gage means for indicating the condition of occupancy of the bases resulting from previous plays consisting of indicia on said disk having a predetermined corelation with the play indicating indicia thereon, and a notch in said panel through which said gage indicia is adapted to be selectively displayed',

'7. A baseball game apparatus including a game board, a fixed elevated center panel having marginally spaced groups of indicia representing plays of the game and having a marginal cutout portion, a continuous ball raceway in the upper surface or" the game board surrounding the center panel and having longitudinally spaced ball receiving depressions in the bottom thereof disposed in registry with the indicia, a guard strip tted within the outer wall of the raceway and extending longitudinally thereoto prevent projection of the ball from the raceway, a. rotary disk mounted below the fixed panel having marginally spaced indicia representing plays of the game and adapted to be exposed through the cutout portions of the panel, and gage means for indicating the condition of occupancy of the bases resulting from previous plays consisting of a shaft to which said disk is secured with the upper end thereof protruding above the panel, a radial pointer on the protruding end of said shaft, a fixed dial on said panel having circumferentially spaced indicia indicating the occupancy of the bases and corelated With the indicia on the disk which is exposed through .the cutout portion for cooperating with the ball receiving depressions to formulate plays of the game upon subsequent projection of the ball in the raceway.

CARL F. Donna. 

